Once the centre of Mexican turtle hunting, the Costa Chica – an area of the Pacific Coast in the state of Oaxaca – is now drawing tourists for a different reason: its no-frills attitude, friendly residents and thriving eco-tourism industry.

But if it’s jetskis, glittering resorts and miles of tourists sunning on beaches you’re searching for, you might be in the wrong place for your Mexican holiday. Here, you’re less likely to jostle with throngs of travellers and it’s quite likely during your stay that you’ll see the same people more than once, walking on the road to town.